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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
I don't know what to write for a review. It is so different a book from any I have read. Strong characters that seem like real people. Not afraid of difficult subjects. It's dark but not oppressive. When I have money I plan to buy it so I can revisit this world again.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have no words
I’ve seen a few reviews that call this YA but the content far outweighs that category and there aren’t enough words in the English vernacular to properly explain just how phenomenal this book is. Character depth and development, an ever-evolving mystery that just keeps drawing you in deeper, a compelling anti-heroine. Her methods may leave you conflicted but utterly enraptured. It has been YEARS since I’ve enjoyed a book this greatly. I cannot recommend it more to anyone considering it.
I’ve seen a few reviews that call this YA but the content far outweighs that category and there aren’t enough words in the English vernacular to properly explain just how phenomenal this book is. Character depth and development, an ever-evolving mystery that just keeps drawing you in deeper, a compelling anti-heroine. Her methods may leave you conflicted but utterly enraptured. It has been YEARS since I’ve enjoyed a book this greatly. I cannot recommend it more to anyone considering it.
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
This is one of the few books I've picked up which has legitimately blown my socks off- and I mean that in the best possible way. I went into this expecting it to be a bit of schlocky, poorly written fun- and how WRONG I was. Not only is it one of the most well-written books I have read in awhile, but it was also heart-breaking, gorgeous, terrifying, and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. Ryn is incredible ("I am 103 pounds"), and Naomi as her "good and pure" foil is also incredible in being the "straight" (hahaha) woman to Ryn's goofiness. Both of these characters are lovable and flawed in truly realistic, sad, funny, silly, wonderful ways, and I am 100% in for reading the next book, even though at times I was genuinely so freaked out and disturbed that I had to walk away for awhile. Yes- this book is a walking trigger warning, and so utterly brutal and awful in parts that you have to scrub your mind clean- but Ryn and Naomi both are such strong, funny, and grounded characters that I was always desperate to read more.
This is the book I am recommending to all of my friends, and to anyone reading this I strongly urge dropping everything and picking it up- you will not regret it.
This is the book I am recommending to all of my friends, and to anyone reading this I strongly urge dropping everything and picking it up- you will not regret it.
This was delightful. Literally couldn't put it down, read it in a single siting. Kind of an edgy, horror superhero origin story. A world fallen into vice and decay, shadowy cabals manipulating crime from behind the scenes, and a hero who eats the hearts of her victims. I don't even particularly like superhero stories, but I really liked this. The characters are well-drawn, and the writing is sharp, and at times poetic. I think I knew this was not just good, but great when I got to this line: "Walking into an emergency room after midnight was like wandering past a plot twist in other people’s lives."
The romance is sweet, and occasionally sensual. I think this might have one of the sexiest kiss scenes I've ever read. Ryn is terrifying but also adorable. She shifts back and forth from an alien, inhuman mindset to that of an angsty teenager, sometimes in an instant.
Also, this exchange had me laughing out loud, and I still giggle to think of it:
Anyways, a great novel. It looks like it's intended to be part of a series, and I hope the author writes more. But even if not, it's still definitely worth a read on its own. I even came back to reread it barely more than a month after finishing it, and it holds up very well on a second read.
The romance is sweet, and occasionally sensual. I think this might have one of the sexiest kiss scenes I've ever read. Ryn is terrifying but also adorable. She shifts back and forth from an alien, inhuman mindset to that of an angsty teenager, sometimes in an instant.
Also, this exchange had me laughing out loud, and I still giggle to think of it:
“One spirit can kill another by eating it,” Ryn said, “because they’re made of the same substance. For non-spirits, you must have Hell-fire or something sharp enough to cut a ghost. I only know one such thing.”
“A plus-three vorpal sword?”
An odd piece of lore to know, for a mortal. “Two things,” Ryn allowed.
Anyways, a great novel. It looks like it's intended to be part of a series, and I hope the author writes more. But even if not, it's still definitely worth a read on its own. I even came back to reread it barely more than a month after finishing it, and it holds up very well on a second read.
This is considered YA urban fantasy but it's waaaay too explicitly violent to be considered YA in my mind.
Wedged in between the brutality, there's a cute f/f romance between a senator's daughter and a monster/goddess, and wholesome friendships too.
Look now at me. The dark is terrible, surrounds you, and is never empty as it seems. Though monsters lurk, know this: none is hungrier than me.
Ryn is a monster who eats other monsters. She’s tough, agile, and incredibly strong — but also the size of a small teen. When she’s found, brutally wounded after being tortured, she’s treated like a child, put into the system, and sent to school.
She soon meets Naomi, the beautiful and kind daughter of a senator, and they strike up a friendship. Ryn quickly realizes that she’s in danger and vows to protect her, destroying any monster who attempts to cause her harm.
The senator is Republican, and it kinda gives the book a “conservative lite” vibe. My favourite quote is:
“As I do not place a ‘D’ after my name, the press are not fond of us, and what few rules they have about kids and women won’t apply to you.”
Which I thought was funny. In what world does the media/press view women (Ever looked at a magazine? Newspaper? Anything?) and families of any politician as off limits?
Anyway, this book definitely leans right, but it’s also queer so there’s a limit. It wasn’t unbearably political— just a little annoying. The majority of the book is fine on that front.
This is not a light read by any means. It’s quite descriptive in how brutal it is, so I’d read a few more reviews to get the CWs. There are a lot, including (keep in mind I might miss some):
I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Naomi and Ryn, but their relationship was still cute. It was definitely a welcome distraction from all of the yuck and terror! I think this is one of the few books that have genuinely creeped me out. 4 stars.
Wedged in between the brutality, there's a cute f/f romance between a senator's daughter and a monster/goddess, and wholesome friendships too.
Look now at me. The dark is terrible, surrounds you, and is never empty as it seems. Though monsters lurk, know this: none is hungrier than me.
Ryn is a monster who eats other monsters. She’s tough, agile, and incredibly strong — but also the size of a small teen. When she’s found, brutally wounded after being tortured, she’s treated like a child, put into the system, and sent to school.
She soon meets Naomi, the beautiful and kind daughter of a senator, and they strike up a friendship. Ryn quickly realizes that she’s in danger and vows to protect her, destroying any monster who attempts to cause her harm.
The senator is Republican, and it kinda gives the book a “conservative lite” vibe. My favourite quote is:
“As I do not place a ‘D’ after my name, the press are not fond of us, and what few rules they have about kids and women won’t apply to you.”
Which I thought was funny. In what world does the media/press view women (Ever looked at a magazine? Newspaper? Anything?) and families of any politician as off limits?
Anyway, this book definitely leans right, but it’s also queer so there’s a limit. It wasn’t unbearably political— just a little annoying.
Spoiler
Like when a bad guy wants to kill her because her dad is pro-guns. Republicans are victims, anti-gun people are the violent ones, Hillary Clinton would start a bunch of wars if elected, yada yada.This is not a light read by any means. It’s quite descriptive in how brutal it is, so I’d read a few more reviews to get the CWs. There are a lot, including (keep in mind I might miss some):
Spoiler
rape, threats, stalking, murder, gore, sexual assault, pedophilia, abuse in the foster system, torture, etcI didn’t really feel the chemistry between Naomi and Ryn, but their relationship was still cute. It was definitely a welcome distraction from all of the yuck and terror! I think this is one of the few books that have genuinely creeped me out. 4 stars.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes